CAIRO (Update 1) - A Cairo criminal court Sunday adjourned until Monday the trial of former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly, who is accused of money laundering, upon his defence's request. El-Adly also faces a number of other charges, including playing a major role in killing protesters during Egypt's 25 January Revolution. "The witnesses didn't show up. Therefore, we couldn't question them. It's enough that we have their written evidence to rely on," said Farid el-Deeb, a lawyer for el-Adly, asking the court to take into consideration the report on a police investigation into the case. While the session was in progress, several police officers were inside the dock with the defendant. They were standing in front of el-Adly, so Chief Judge Mohamadi Qansuh asked them to move so he could see the defendant. "The defendant [el-Adly] is part of this trial, so he should be seen," Qansuh shouted. He then postponed the session until today, to give time for the defence team to present their evidence. El-Adly was the most hated and feared figure in Mubarak's toppled regime. His trial started last week amidst unprecedented security. He was arrested last month as part of sweeping corruption investigations launched by the new military regime. El-Adly is also standing trial for killing revolutionary protesters. His trial and that of six of his top assistants, including the former head of the dissolved State Security Police, accused of killing the protesters, will start on April 24.
